A. CAFE will be continually updated and improved. Let us know your ideas and suggestions to improve CAFE.

Q. What computer operating systems are compatible with CAFE?

A. You can install and run CAFE on Windows or Mac operating systems. CAFE for Windows can be run on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 operating systems. CAFE for Mac can be run on Mountain Lion (10.8), Mavericks (10.9), Yosemite (10.10), and El Capitan (10.11) operating systems. Operating systems not listed here have not been tested and are not supported.

Q. Is CAFE available for smartphones and tablets (such as iOS or Android devices)?

A. No, CAFE is currently only available as a desktop program.

Q. Is there technical support for CAFE?

A. On the page, Getting Started with CAFE, we provide a number of resources to help you use CAFE, ranging from its basic use to detailed technical details. In addition, we’ve created videos on a number of topics to help you get up and running. If you need further assistance, you can email the CAFE Specialist at OR&R.

Q. What are the main components of CAFE?

A. The following table shows the main components and their functions.

Component

Function

Aquatic Fate

View fate information from three sub-modules: Structure and Physical Properties, Environmental Fate, and Analytical Methods and Uses for Chemicals

A. Each toxicity data record (row) within CAFE was scored (e.g., high, moderate, low), based on its applicability to chemical spill response. This score was judged based on source-specific considerations. Refer to Appendix A of the CAFE User's Manual [PDF, 5.7 MB] for criteria.

A. SSDs are probabilistic models generated by ranking the relative sensitivity of individual species from most sensitive to least sensitive. In CAFE, SSDs are generated for datasets with a minimum of five species by fitting the empirical toxicity data to a logistic function, defined below, where L is the curve's maximum value, and a and c the regression coefficients:

Q. How do you read a SSD curve?

A. The X-axis represents the concentration required to adversely affect the aquatic species based on a logarithmic scale. The Y-axis represents the percentage of the affected species. Species located to the left of the curve are more sensitive than the species to the right of the curve.

Q. What is an HC1 or HC5 value?

A. The estimated HC1 and HC5 (µg/L) values are derived from an SSD curve and are used as hazard concentrations under the assumption that these would be protective of 99 percent and 95 percent of the species, respectively.

Q. What is the formula used in creating the SSD curves?

A. In CAFE, SSDs are generated for datasets with a minimum of five species by fitting the empirical toxicity data to a logistic function, defined below, where L is the curve's maximum value, and a and c are the regression coefficients: